Boiler.



' Patenfed Aug. 7, I900. N. P. TUWNE.

BOILER.

(Application filed. Sept. 16, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.

FIG. .1-

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES: .Mm

Patented Aug. 7, I900. N. P. TOWNE.

BOILER.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet -2 (No Model.)-

INVENTOR:

n4: ucnms PFI'ERS no. Pno-muma. WASHXNGYON. n c.

Patented Aug. 7, I900. N. P. TOWNE.

BOILER. (Application filed Sept. 16, 1899.)

4 Shasta-Shuti (No Model.)

FIG 8- INVENTOR:

No. 655,420. Patented Aug. 7, I900. N. P. TOWNE.

BOILER.

(Application filed Sept. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 shaexssneet 4.

FICZJO.

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UNirnb STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN P. TOWNE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,420, dated August '7, 1906.

Application filed September 16, 1899. Serial No. 730,716. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHAN P. TowNn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional lVater- Tube Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

In the practical operation of water tube boilers the tubes and heads frequently become scaled or rendered partly inoperative by the accumulation of foreign matters carried in with the water, or become otherwise defective, so that it becomes desirable to remove particularindividual tubes or headers, without disturbing the others, for the purposes of cleansing or repair.

It is the object of my invention to unite the boiler tubes to the headers by couplings or connections of a tight and enduring char actor, and of such form and arrangement that individual tubes may be withdrawn from a header without necessitating the removal of the header from the boiler, and it is the further object of my invention to also connect the headers with the drum by a connection which while firm and tight enables the ex peditious removal of the header from the drum when desired.

In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein I describe, a good form of a convenient embodiment of my invention, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a longitudinal section through an evaporating tube and circulating tube embodying my invention, shown as mounted in a header also illustrated in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through an evaporating tube, the circulating tube being supposed removed and the'carrier bar inserted and engaged with the evaporating tube, which latter is illustrated as having been partly withdrawn from its seat in the header illustrated.

Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of one of the headers embodying my invention.

Figure 4 is a central, vertical, sectional, elevation through the upper end of a header embodying my invention, section being supposed on the dotted line fi: 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan of. a header, illustrating the application of the boiler tubes by means of the connections and arrangements devised by me, the outer portion of one of the evaporating tubes illustrated being supposed removed to exhibit the outer end of the circulating tube.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of an evaporating tube and circulating tube, mounted, in accordance with my invention, in a header fragrnentarily illustrated, section being supposed on the dotted line 6 6 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a transverse section through the tubes on the dotted line 7 7 of Figure 6. i Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a boiler head and the tubes connected therewith, the boiler casing in which the same are mounted, and illustrating also the usual drum with which the boiler is provided. The parts shown in this figure are drawn on a reduced scale.

Figure 9 is a central, vertical, sectional, elevation through the upper end of one of the headers, the tubular connection, collar, and reinforcing plate, illustrating also the adjacent portion of the drum. The parts shown in this figure, which illustrates a modified form or arrangement of the upper end of the header, are drawn to a reduced scale.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary View in front elevation of the drum and a series of headers embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. 1

In the accompanying drawings,

A is the header, being a chamber or shell of elongated form conveniently of rectangular section, as shown in Figure 5, and divided for the greater portion of its length by a diaphragm B into a descending channel a, and an ascending channel b.

The headers are preferably formed of square seamless or lap-welded steel 'or iron tube. Conveniently the lower end of'each may be closed by'a concavo-convex plate A Figure 9, seated Within its end, the flange of which plate is securely riveted to the body of the header."

It is to be understood that my improvements are applicable in connection with headers of either straight or sinuous constructions, a tube. Thereupon, when proper withdraw and the word header as used herein applies to and covers headers of either variety.

A series of evaporating tubes, designated D, are mounted in the rear or inner wall a of the header and project rearwardly into the interior space within the boiler casing A, said tubes being of any preferred length and proportions.

The front ends of the evaporating tubes are open and in communication with the interior of the ascending channel 5.

d are openings in the rear or inner wall of the header, of diameter corresponding to that of the exteriors of the open end portions of the evaporating tubes, within which openings the evaporating tubes tightly and snugly fit.

The walls of the tubes D are in the vicinity of their open ends, of slightly greater thickness than throughout their length, so that while said end portions will snuglyfit within the openings (1, the bodies of the tubes will pass easily through said openings in their application and removal. W hen the tubes D are seated in position in the openings 01, they are expanded in position therein to cause them to tightly fit said openings.

The edges of the open ends of the tubes D are headed or upset, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, to form lips which bear against the adjacent inner face of the header, whereby very close and tight connection is formed between the tubes and header.

Openings efslightly larger than'the openings cl are formed in the diaphragms B and the front or outer walls a of the headers, respectively, one such opening e and one such openingf being arranged in axial alinement with each opening d, and through these openings efthe evaporating tubes may be originally inserted and may be withdrawn and replaced at will (upon the removal of the circulating tubes and connections, whereof hereinafter).

G are screw caps, mounted, as is usual, upon the threaded extremities of the rear or free ends of the evaporating tubes, which free ends are, as shown, somewhat reduced in diameter, to permit the use of screw caps of diameter not greater than the diameter of the bodies of the tubes, with the result that said caps will with the tubes pass through the openings (Z of.

The evaporating tubes are so arranged that a carrier bar C, Figure 2, inserted through the openings fe, (the circulating tubes being first removed) may be engaged with them'one by one, to withdraw them through said openings e f.

To enable the engagement of the carrier bar with the tubes, I prefer to provide the inner faces of said tubes, conveniently at their reduced free ends, with screw threads,

ing force is applied to the bar, it Will first work the inner end of the tube free from its engagement with the inner or rear wall of the header, and then withdraw said tube through the openings 6 f.

Of course, other expedients may be employed to efiect the engagement between the carrier bar and the tubes.

A series of circulating tubes Hare disposed one in each of the evaporating tubes, said circulating tubes being in communication as to their front ends with the descending channel, a, and as to their rear ends opening into the space within the rear end portions of the evaporating tubes.

As the circulating tubes are of smaller diameter than the evaporating tubes, I provide each of the former, in the region of its front end, with an annular collar 72., of such circumference as to adapt it to be seated within the opening 6, (see Figure 1). The closeness of the fit of the collar upon the tube is increased by expanding the tube end within said collar. .The projectinglip of the tube is split, and bent out to form the flange h'', Figure 1, which flange is riveted to the collar. A very strong and tight union is thus formed between the tube and the collar. In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 6, the collar is provided with the flanges h 77. and

a very small flange b is turned up against the edge of the flange h.

The rear or free end of each circulating tube is provided with means for maintaining it in an approximately central position within the body of the corresponding evaporating tube. It is a desideratum that such means shall obstruct the flow of the fluid through the evaporating tube as little as possible, and to provide means which will constitute the minimum obstruction, I form several L- shaped cuts in the end portion of the circulating tube, and turn or bend radially outward the flaps of metal h thus formed, so that their planes are radial to the axis of the tube.

The flaps are of such size that their outer ends are in contact with the inner faces of the evaporating tubes.

These guides or supports h have no rivets or bolts and consequently afi'ord the least possible lodgment for scale.

To close the opening fI provide a conical plug J, normally existing on the inner side or face of the wall a and the greatest diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of said opening f, and I equip said plug with a threaded shankj extending out through the opening f, armed with a nut j adapted to bear against a wa-sherj encircling the shank between the plug and the nut.

The front end of each circulating tube H is connected to its plug J by one or more arms 70 extending from opposing sides of said tube and attached to the face of the plug J by suitable screws. The said arms is are preferably formed as integral continuat-ions of the body of the circulating tubes, the tubes being, to such purpose, originally formed of more than the desired ultimate length, and cut away as to their end wall portions, said arms remaining as connections to the body of the tube.

On the plug J is mounted the copper ring m, which is originally of the same outside diameter as the larger diameter of the plug, and of greater width than the thickness of the header. The plug with its ring being pushed into the hole with the front edge of the ring flush with the outside of the header, and the washer and nut being put in position, by screwing on the nut the plug is drawn back into the hole, the ring being prevented from moving by the pressure of the washer, and the copperis turned over by the pressure of the plug, and forms a tight joint which will not leak or give way.

As the plug comes to its final seat, through the ring m, against the edge of the opening f, the collar it will come to its seat in the opening e.

To remove the circulating tube, the nut and washer are removed or set back a sufficient distance to allow the plug to be forced inwardly to clear the opening f, the ring 171 is then drawn out through said opening, and thereupon the plug and the circulating tube attached to it, may be together drawn from the head.

To secure the upper ends of the headers to the drum, I form in said drum 0, (Figure 9), or on a reinforcing plate or plates N extending along the lower face thereof, and forming in effect part thereof, tapered openings at, one for each header.

\Vithin the open upper end of each header I insert a block S, Figures 3 and 4, of consid erable thickness, externally squared or conformed to snugly fit the correspondingly shaped interior of the header.

This block, the central portion of which is provided with a tapped bore .9, is preferably secured in position by being Welded fast to the header.

Within the threaded bore 3 I engage the lower end of a correspondingly threaded tubular connection P, (shown in Figure 9), and I expand said tubular connection in its position in the block by a common tube expander to strongly unite it to said block so that it becomes in effecta part of the block and header.

The upper end of the tubular connection P is formed with an external taper corre sponding to the taper of the opening n and accordingly fits snugly therein.

Q, Figures 8 and 9, is a lug provided collar mounted in threaded engagement upon the exterior of the tubular connection P.

Screws R provided with suitable nuts r, pass through the body of the drum or reinforcing plate, which latter may be considered as a part of the drum, and the lugs of the collar Q, the arrangement being such that by the tightening up of said nuts the tubular connection will be very firmly and tightly seated and held against the conical interior of the opening a, and thereby a very strong union formed between the header and drum.

Manifestly, upon the removal of the nuts r, the header, carrying the tubular connection and collar,may be very easily and quickly unseated from the inclined opening 42 referred to, and may also afterremoval be very expeditiously replaced.

To secure the tubular connection to the header, it is obvious that instead of providing the block S welded in position in the upper end of the header, the upper end of the header may itself, as shown in Figure 9, be rounded, slightly expanded, and tapped as to its bore and the tubular connection P engaged in the thread of such tapped bore and expanded in place therein.

I prefer, however, to attach the tubular connection P to the header through the intermediation of the tapped bored block S re ferred to,rather than to engage it with a thread formed directly in the metal of the header, as shown in Figure 9, for the reason, among others, that the first described expedient is very simple, inexpensive, and strong, while the last mentioned method requires, in the formation of the rounded expanded upper end and the thread in such expanded end, much extra time and labor.

Whether the tubular connection P is engaged with the header through the intermediate block S, or engaged directly to the header as in Figure 9, its upper end is preferably tapered as shown in Figure 9, and engaged in a tapered opening as shown in said figure, and the body of the tubular connection is provided with a threaded ring connected by nuts and bolts with the body of the drum. 7

As will be understood from a consideration of the construction illustrated, the axes of the evaporating tubes are perpendicular to the plane of the headers, and, therefore, the evaporating tubes are adapted to make close and tight connection with their seats in the inner wall of the header, when expanded and flanged as described. The slight inclination of the tubes desirable in the use of the boiler I secure by slightly inclining the headers as shown in Figure 8.

My invention provides a boiler which not only possesses great advantages in the ease with which its parts may be removed and replaced as described, but is, furthermore, While tight, strong, and durable, very inexpensive in construction.

'Having thus described my invention, I claim 7 l 1. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, and a series of evaporator tubes mounted in openings in the inner walls of said headers and expanded directly against the lips of said openings, and having each a reduced free end closed by a screw cap of Smaller diameter than said header openings, Substantially as set forth.

2. In a tubular .boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, and a series of evaporator tubes mounted in openings in the inner walls of said headers and expanded directly against the lips of said openings, said tubes having front ends of greater thickness than their bodies, and having reduced rear ends closed by screw caps of smaller diameter than said header openings, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, and a series of evaporator tubes mounted in openings in the inner walls of said headers and expanded directly against the lips of said openings, and having each a reduced free end closed by a screw cap 0f smaller diameter than said header openings, the front end lips of said tubes being upset or turned over against the inner faces of the header walls, substantially as set forth.

4. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, and a series of evaporator tubes mounted in openings in the inner walls of said headers and expanded directly against the lips of said openings, said tubes having front ends of greater thickness than their bodies, and having reduced rear ends closed by screw caps of smaller diameter than said header openings, the front end lips of said tubes being upset or turned over against the inner faces of the header walls, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, and a series of evaporating tubes mounted in the rear walls of said headers, each evaporating tube having a reduced end of smaller diameter than the opening in the header in which said tube is mounted, and means by which a carrier bar or equivalent device may take hold of a tube to withdraw it through an opening in which it is mounted, substantially as set forth.

6. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, and a series of evaporating tubes mounted in the walls of said headers and having each a screw thread formed in its inner face, and also having a reduced end closed by a screw cap of smaller diameter than the opening in the header in which said tube is mounted, substantially as set forth.

7. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers, a series of circulating tubes, a series of evaporating tubes mounted in the walls of said headers and having each a screw thread formed in its inner face, and a carrier bar having a threaded end adapted to the threads in the inner faces of the tubes, substantially as set forth.

8. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a

drum, a series of headers having each ari outer wall, an inner wall, and an intermediate diaphragm, a series of alined openings formed in said walls and diaphragms, a series of evaporating tubes the front ends of which are mounted in and expanded directly against the openings in the inner walls of the headers, a series of circulating tubes structurally independent of the evaporating tubes, mounted one in each of said evaporating tubes, opening as to their front ends through the diaphragms and into the regions between the diaphragms and front walls of the respective headers, and means for securing said circulating tubes in position independently of the means for securing the evaporating tubes in position, substantially as set forth.

9. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each an outer wall, an inner wall, and an inter-medi ate diaphragm, a series of alined openings formed in said walls and diaphragms, a series of evaporating tubes the front ends-of which are mounted in and expanded against the lips of the openings in the inner walls of the headers, each tube being of such dimensions as to be adapted to pass through the openings in the diaphragm and outer wall and each tube having a screw thread formed in its inner face for the engagement of a carrier bar, a series of circulating tubes mounted one in each evaporating tube and each as to its front end opening through a diaphragm and into the region between the diaphragm and the front wall of the header in connection with which it operates, means for centering the front end of each circulating tube in its diaphragm opening, and independent means for centering the rear end of each in its inclosing evaporating tube, substantially as set forth.

10. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers each comprising a front wall a rear wall and an intermediate diaphragm,a series of evaporating tubes mounted in the rear walls of the said headers and opening as to their front ends into the region between the diaphragms and rear walls of the respective headers, a series of circulating tubes mounted one in each of the evaporating -tubes and opening as to their front ends into the regions between the diaphragms and front walls of the respective headers, each-circulating tube having supporting devices at or near its rear end consisting of flaps cut from its own substance and .turned radially outward, substantially as set forth.

11. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each an outer and inner wall and an intermediate diaphragm, alined openings formed in said walls and diaphragms, aseries of evaporating tubes seated in and expanded directly against the lips of openings formed in the rear walls of the headers, a series of circulating tubes disposed respectively within the evaporating tubes and opening through the diaphragms,

closing devices independent of the evaporating tubes adapted to close the openings in the front walls of the headers, and connections between the circulating tubes and said closing devices, substantially as set forth.

12. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each a front and rear wall and an intermediate diaphragm, a series of evaporating tubes mounted in the rear walls of the headers and opening into the spaces between said rear walls and the diaphragms of the headers, circulating tubes disposed within said evaporating tubes and opening through the diaphragms into the spaces between the diaphragms and front walls of the headers, openings formed in the front walls of the headers in alinement with said tubes, tapered plugs adapted to be passed to the inside of said openings, rings disposed between said plugs and the edges of said openin gs,threaded shanks connected to said plugs, nuts and washers mounted on said shanks, and connections between said plugs and the circulating tubes, substantially as set forth.

13. In atubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each a front and rear wall an d an intermediate diaphragm, a series of evaporating tubes mounted in the rear walls of the headers and opening into the space between said rear walls and the diaphragms of the headers, circulating tubes disposed within said evaporating tubes and opening through the diaphragms into the spaces between the diaphragms and front walls of the headers, openings formed in the front walls of the headers in alinement with said tubes, tapered plugs adapted to be passed to the inside of said openings, rings disposed between said plugs and the edges of said openings, threaded shanks connected to said plugs, nuts and washers mounted on said shanks, and connections between said plugs and the circulating tubes, said connections consisting of arms formed as integral continuations of the circulating tubes and the front ends of which are fastened to the plugs, substantially as set forth.

let. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each a front and rear wall and an intermediate diaphragm, aseries of evaporating tubes mounted in openings in the rear walls of said headers, openings formed in the diaphragms and front walls of the headers, a series of circulating tubes of less diameter than the evaporating tubes, collars mounted on said circulating tubes and making contact with the edges of the openings in the diaphragms, a series of plugs respectively applied to the respective openings in the outer walls of the headers, and a series of connections, independent of the evaporating tubes, between the individual plugs and the individual circulating tubes, substan tiall y as set forth.

15. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each front and rear walls and an intermediate diaphragm, aseries of evaporating tubes mounted each in an opening in one of said rear walls, a series of circulating tubes mounted one in each of the evaporating tubes, and capable of removal independently of said evaporating tubes, openings formed in the front walls and diaphragms of the headers in alinement with openings in the rear walls, a series of collars which fit the openings in the diaphragms mounted one on each circulating tube, said tubes being expanded against the bores of the collars, a series of plugs respectively seated in the respective openings in the front walls of the headers, and a series of arms connecting the individual plugs to the individual cir? culating tubes, substantially as set forth.

16. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of headers having each front and rear walls and an intermediate diaphragm, a series of evaporating tubes mounted each in an opening in one of said rear walls, a series of circulating tubes disposed one in each of the evaporating tubes, and capable of removal independently of said evaporating tubes, openings formed in the front walls and diaphragms of the headers in alinement with the openings in the rear wall, a series of collars which fit the openings in the diaphragms mounted one'on the front end of each circulating tube which tubes are expanded against the collars and each as to its end metal turned up against the side face of its collar,- rivets passing through the collars and tubes, a series of plugs seated in the openings in the front walls of the headers, and a series of arms connecting the individual plugs to the individual circulating tubes, substantially as set forth.

17. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, having a series of tapered openings, a series of headers within the mouths of which are entered and expanded threaded tubular connections the upper ends of which are tapered to fit said tapered openings, a series of threaded rings mounted one on the exterior of each of said threaded tubular con nections, and bolts or kindred devices which pass through said rings and the body or shell or a connection of the drum, a series of cir culating tubes and a series of evaporating tubes connected to each header, substantially as set forth.

18. In a tubular boiler, in combinatioma drum having a series of tapered openings, a series of headers, a series of threaded tubular connections the bodies of which are entered and expanded in the bores of said headers which are formed to receivethem, and the tapered ends of which tubular connections are adapted to the tapered openings, a series of threaded rings mounted on the exteriors of said tubular connections, devices connective of said drum and rings adapted to draw said rings and tubular connections toward the drum, and a series of circulating tubes and evaporating tubes in circuit with each header, substantially as set forth.

10. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a

drum, a series of tubular headers, and a series of evaporating and circulating tubes, each tubular header being of square or angular section formed as a seamless or lap- Welded tube having its lower end closed and having a tapped block Welded in'place in its upper end, substantially as set forth.

20. In a tubular boiler, in combination, a drum, a series of circulating tubes, a series of evaporating tubes, and a series of tubular headers of square or angular section, each formed as a seamless or lap-welded tube, each having its lower end closed, and each having a tapped block welded in its upper end, a series of threaded tubular connec-. tions each of which is expanded as to one end in the tapped opening of one of the blocks and as to its other end entered in an opening in the drum or a connection thereof, rings on said tubular connections, and bolts or kindred devices provided with nuts through which the tubular connections carrying the headers are drawn toward the drum, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto-signed my name this 1st day of September, A. D. 1899.

NATHAN P. TOWNE. 

